Water-conserving irrigation strategies minimize overwatering, runoff

Container-grown woody ornamentals thrive with daily water use irrigation regimen

		IMAGE: Overhead irrigation system used to irrigate the three-gallon container-grown landscape shrubs in the experiment. Click here for more information.

EAST LANSING, MI—Conserving water and reducing the environmental impact of runoff are two of the most important issues confronting container nursery operations. Current regulations and laws in five states limit water consumption by container nurseries, and some states also limit nutrient concentrations in runoff. Excessive runoff from container plants often results from poor irrigation efficiency; in some cases as little as 13% to 26% of overhead irrigation is retained in the container.